August 29,2011-- Lenox Hill Hospital accepted approximately 30 patients evacuated from Staten Island University Hospital in anticipation of Hurricane Irene's landfall over the weekend and cared for nearly 300 people who arrived at its Emergency Department during that time.

Lenox Hill, as one of the North Shore-LIJ Health System's 15 hospitals, worked with the Healthcare System's Emergency Operations Command Center to mobilize resources and prepare for the safety of its patients and staff, and for the expected acceptance of patients from evacuated system hospitals. Preparations included cancelling all elective surgeries to reduce the number of patients in the hospital during the storm and ensure that a sufficient number of beds were available to care for evacuated patients; arranging for backup clinical and ancillary staff to be on site in advance of their shifts and throughout the storm; stockpiling sufficient food, water, linens, medications and other supplies to meet the needs of patients and staff into the following week; and providing for sufficient generators and other emergency equipment needed in the event of power outages.

"We are proud of the professionalism shown by our staff in anticipation of, throughout and after the storm," said Frank Danza, Executive Director of Lenox Hill Hospital. "Our emergency preparedness measures combined with the commitment of our staff were instrumental in the seamless transfer of critically ill patients requiring advanced medical care and interventions."